Antirrhinum plant named Lapin

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Snapdragon plant named Lapin, characterized by its ability to be asexually propagated by terminal cuttings; hanging or pendulous plant form that is ideal for hanging basket culture; uniform and freely branching habit; numerous dark pink flowers; early flowering; and excellent rooting.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSnapdragon plant, botanically known as Antirrhinum majus, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Lapin.

The new Snapdragon is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the inventor in Quedlinburg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new Snapdragon cultivars having a hanging growthhabit, moderate vigor, desirable flower colors, numerous flowers, andstrong rooting habit.

The new Snapdragon originated from a cross made by the inventor of theinventor's proprietary Snapdragon seedling selections. The cultivarLapin was discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of this cross in a controlled environment inQuedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new Snapdragon by terminal cuttings taken atQuedlinburg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newSnapdragon are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Lapin. These characteristics incombination distinguish Lapin as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Can be asexually propagated by terminal cuttings. Most commerciallyavailable Snapdragon cultivars are generatively propagated by seeds.

2. Hanging or pendulous plant form that is ideal for hanging basketculture. Maintains uniform habit, does not require growth retardants.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Numerous dark pink flowers.

5. Early flowering.

6. Excellent rooting and easy to propagate.

The new Snapdragon has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

Compared to the female parent, plants of the new Snapdragon have largerflowers and differ in flower color. Plants of the male parent areupright whereas plants of the new Snapdragon are hanging or pendulous ingrowth habit.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering hanging basket plant of Lapin with three plants in thecontainer.

The second photograph comprises a top perspective view of immature (top)and mature (bottom) leaves. The upper (left) and under (right) sides ofthe leaves are shown. To the right of the leaves, a typical flower isshown.

The third photograph comprises a top perspective view of an intactflower (left) and a flower divided (right) to show the flower throat.

The flower and foliage colors in these photographs appear different thanthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Quedlinburg, Germany, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with average nighttemperatures of 12C and average day temperatures of 15C.

Botanical classification: Antirrhinum majus cultivar Lapin.

Commercial classification: Hanging basket Snapdragon.

Parentage:

Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary Snapdragon seedling selection.

Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary Snapdragon seedling selection.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--About 28 days with soil temperatures of 20C.

Rooting habit.--Strong rooting habit, cuttings propagate easily, rootsfine and freely branching.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Herbaceous annual with pendulous habit, suitable forhanging basket containers. Bushy and rounded. Freely branching, plantsdo not require pinching. Moderate growth rate, maintains uniform habit,does not require growth retardants. From a rooted cutting, eight weeksare required to produce a flowering 9-cm container plant.

Plant diameter in a hanging basket container.--From top of plant planeto lower flowers, about 60 cm.

Stem description.--Internode length: 1.5 to 3.5 cm. Diameter: 3 to 5 mm.Color: 147B. Texture: Very pubescent.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Single. Size: Young foliage: Length:About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Mature foliage: Length: About 4 cm.Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Leaf apex: Obtuse. Leaf base: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Young foliage upper surface:147A. Young foliage under surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage uppersurface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage under surface: 147B. Petiole:Length: Young foliage: About 0.5 cm. Fully expanded: About 1 cm. Color:137C. Texture: Very pubescent.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Bilabiate flowers arranged in leafy terminal racemes.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower continuousfrom May to November in the Northern Hemisphere. Flowers not persistent.Flowers last up to 10 days on the plants

Flower bud.--Size: Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color59C/59D. Texture: Very pubescent.

Flower size.--Diameter: 2 to 2.5 cm. Depth (height): 3.5 to 4 cm.Margin: Entire, undulating, Texture: Velvety, smooth and glabrous.Color: Upper lip: 78C with darker, 78B, veins. Lower lip: 78C withdarker, 78D, veins. Lower lip palate: 6A. Inside throat: White. Outsidethroat: 78D.

Peduncle.--Aspect: About 70° to the flowering stem. Length: 0.5 to 1 cm.Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: 137C.

Sepals.--Quantity: 5. Shape: Elliptic. Tip: Acute. Margin: Entire.Color: 137C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number 4. Anther size: About 1mm. Anther color: 14C. Pollen: 15B. Gynoecium: Pistil number 1. Stylelength: About 1.6 cm. Style color: 78C. Stigma color: 144B.

Disease resistance: No known Snapdragon diseases observed to date onplants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Snapdragon plant namedLapin, as illustrated and described.